Alibaba takes on Meta with new AI smart glasses
What's the story
Alibaba has officially launched its new Quark artificial intelligence (AI) glasses in China. The move marks the tech giant's entry into the AI wearables market, which is currently dominated by Meta. The price of these innovative glasses starts at 1,899 yuan (around $270). They are powered by Alibaba's own Qwen AI model and app, making them a unique offering in the industry.
Design details
A blend of style and functionality
The Quark glasses are designed to look like regular eyewear, with a sleek black plastic frame. This design is different from the typical headset designs in the market, such as those made by Meta. Alibaba has said that these glasses will be deeply integrated with its apps, including Alipay and Taobao. Users will be able to use them for various tasks such as on-the-go translation and instant price recognition.
Market strategy
Aggressive push into consumer AI market
Alibaba is making an aggressive push into the consumer AI market, a space it has historically lagged behind in. The launch of Quark glasses comes just weeks after a major upgrade to its AI chatbot. This move is part of the company's larger strategy to compete with tech giants like Meta, Apple, and Samsung Electronics in the race for new AI-powered devices for entertainment and computing.
Industry rivalry
Global competition in AI wearables market
The global AI wearables market is highly competitive, with major tech companies vying for dominance. Meta currently leads the VR headset market with an 80% share. Apple has also joined the fray with its Vision Pro headset, while Samsung Electronics launched its Galaxy XR extended reality headset in October, using AI features from Alphabet's Google. Other Chinese tech companies like Xiaomi and Baidu have also launched similar AI-powered glasses.